Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-13
PROFESSOR LASCELLES.
he Was Not a Bad Valentine,
After All.

there's my Valentine" she went on,
laughing 20 Gypsy, wake up! 1t
Uncle Tom, and he'll be sure to send
me something pretty, for he's looking
straight up here.
Gypsy turned over in the little white
bed and lifted a pair Of great, sleepy,
gray eyes toward her sister.
Il don't know what you mean" she
said, dreamily. "What are you look
ing for, Leslic?"
Leslie danced across the room and
sat down on The bed beside her little
sister, to talk.
.'Oh he told me about it last night,
after you went to bed, Uncle Tom did.
He said people, hundreds of years ago,
always used to look out the window to
see their Valentine, and the first one
who passed was the one. He sang a
funny old verse about it, and he told
me ever so many things they used to do.
And | said | should look out myself this
morning and so | did, and he is the
first one himself. He just did it on pur-
pose, l know / think Uncle Tom s
| splendid. | mean to send him a but
ton-holc bouquet with Valentine card,
and he'll have something lovely for me-
you just seen'
"But then / ought to look out, too, >"
said Gypsy, jumping up. Cant pco-
pie be "a Valentine to two people? Per-
haps he's out there now. Uncle Tom
likes me ever so much. He carried me
all the way up from dinner last night,
on his shoulder. / like strong people.
I'm going to look too, Leslie"
"Unce Toms gone. though" said
Leslie. II saw him turn the corner.
He laughed when he saw my head
sticking out between the curtains. But
look, Gypsy; it'll be fun to see who
comes by
Gypsy climbed on the ottoman in her
turn and stood there, holding by the
curtains, n pretty little figure in her
whi,c nightgown with her flying yellow
hair atop. Her cheeks were very pink
rs she waited for some one 70 come III
sight. The long, dark lashe5 almost
hid the soft eyes as she turned toward
the street. Some one paused at the
street corner and looked steadily at the
| lovely little picture a moment before
she saw him. When his tall, thin form
did come in sight, Gypsy slid down
from her perch with an exclamation of
utter dismay. The pink color mounted
to her forehead and she gasped SO audi
bly, that Leslie burst into peal OF
laughter.
80 Gypsy HOLSTER, who was ito
she cried. What sort of Valentine
did you see? Tell Gypsy! | shall
tumble off the bed laughing, if you look
like that"
ut isn't any thing funny" said in
dignant Gypsy. "What makes you
laugh, Leslie! 1t wasn't anybody for
II Valentine at all! 1t was Just Prof.
Lascellcs out for Il waikiki
prot. Lascelles! Leslie laughed
harder than ever. The tall professor
of music had been the fascination and
terror of Gypsys sensitive soul, ever
since the day when he came to board at
the same house with the Hollister'
family. What did it matter to her that
he was looked up to with profound re-
spect by all the inmates of the house,
that he was spoken of rs the most dis
tinguishcd musician of the city;
and that it was regarded as a
matter of pride that the great college
should have been able to secure him:
and especially that he should honor
this house with his presence? Gypsy
cared nothing about such things. He
was so thin and So silent. and mad such
| piercing dark eyes, and his gray hair
fell over his forehead in such a pecu
liar way-and he looked at her SOL 1t
seemed to Gypsy when he was in the
room that there was no one but herself
for him to look Mt. Whatever she did,
his eyes seemed to be upon her, even
, when he pretended to be busy about
| something else. And in spite of her
self she would find her own timid ewes
! drawn to look at him, blushing furl-
ously rs se turned hastily away, APP
| parentIy trying to hide from her that
he was Watching He never spoke to
her. Prof. La,calles seldom talked
to any body. He came to the dining
room at meal times, and now
and then consented to play
his wonderful violin in the
boarding-.ouse parlor- always look
ing as if he thought no one in the place
could listen properly but that was all.
None of his fellow boardcrs had niece
than speaking acquaintance with
him. Even when Gypsy's pretty mann
ma came rustling up and said "Oh.
it's too lovely for any thing. PROBES
Sort he only thanked her with stiff
bow and walked out of the room with
scowl on his face. Gypsy's father
and mother had talked about the great
mans habit of Watching their little
girl, and wondered what could be the
| reason for it.
1T frightons the child" said her
mother shes such an odd little thing.
If it was Leslie now. she d only enjoy
it. No more idea how pretty she is.
Gypsy has, than a little canary. and
she's Just rs easily upset as Dickv
there Couldn't You just make up to
the Professor, win, aud give him a lit
tie friendly hint that he's making
Gypsy life a burden to herr"
To which Gypsy spapa answered that
ne would like to see anybody drop
hint to Prof, Lascelles, or make up"